Saint of the Day

01 · Read · A life to discover

St. John of Kanty (John Cantius)

Saint John of Kanty, also called John Cantius, was a Polish priest and university teacher remembered for combining scholarship with care for poor people. The names Kanty, Cantius, and Kęty refer to the same person.

After studying at Krakow, he taught at Miechow before returning to the university. He worked in philosophy and theology, carrying teaching and administrative responsibilities while continuing his own studies. His vocation developed within the demanding intellectual life of a medieval university.

John also copied manuscripts by hand, preserving biblical, theological, and other scholarly texts. This was substantial intellectual labor in an age when access to books depended heavily on manuscript production. Surviving volumes bear witness to his patient work as a reader and copyist.

His reputation in Krakow extended beyond the lecture room. He assisted poor residents and students whose material difficulties threatened their education. After his death in 1473, devotion grew around his tomb; he was canonized in 1767. His memory connects two forms of service often separated from one another: the careful transmission of knowledge and practical concern for those struggling to obtain it.

This saint is included on this recurring date in the U.S. Roman Rite calendar published by the USCCB. This reading guide gives U.S. calendar saints priority; the Mass celebrated on a particular year’s date can differ because of Sundays, seasons or higher-ranking celebrations.